Nottingham Forest have lost back to back home games for the first time this season after losing 1-0 to Everton under the City Ground lights. A second half Dwight McNeil strike keeps the Reds in their poor run of form while the Toffee's claim their first three points since their points deduction was imposed on them.
Steve Cooper made four changes to his side that were defeated by Brighton & Hove Albion in their last outing. Two changes in both midfield and defence as Ola Aina and Moussa Niakhate were replaced by Ivorian duo Serge Aurier and Willy Boly in the defence. The double switch in midfield saw the return of Ibrahim Sangare from illness as he replaced Danilo and Ryan Yates came in for Nicolas Dominguez. Sean Dyche only made the one change from his side that lost at home to Manchester United. Portuguese forward Beto replaced the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin. There was a starting spot for former Forest loan hero James Garner who was part of the promotion winning squad.
It was the away side who came close to scoring first. Forest keeper Odisseas Vlachodimos struggled to deal with a high ball into the box with the ball falling to Beto who could not keephis shot down. It looked like a certain opener for the Toffe's and would have been much needed for Beto as he only has one goal to his name since joining from Italian club Udinese.
Forest then had a chance of their own. After Morgan Gibbs-White played the ball back to Aurier, the defender sent the ball into the box with it coming all the way to Anthony Elanga at the back post but his half volley went just wide. The Swede looking to keep up his form in front of goal after scoring in his last two games.
Then Everton came extremely close to taking the lead if it wasn't for some brilliant thinking from Murillo. After Abdoulaye Doucoure found McNeil free on the left, the winger went though and got his shot off past Vlachodimos but Murillo got back to clear it off the line. Another chance that looked certain to find the back of the net but the impressive young Brazilian with some smart thinking to keep it 0-0.
That was it for the first half with Everton being the better of the two sides. Forest were really struggling as they kept losing the ball cheaply which meant Everton could just put constant pressure on them. The Blues just needed to find that finishing touch in the second half. Forest did make a change at the break with Boly being replaced by Felipe for the popular Brazilian to make his first appearance since May.
The visitors then took the lead after 67 minutes. Jack Harrison sending in the ball from the right which found McNeil at the back post and the Englishman composed himself before smashing the ball into the opposite side of the goal. A first goal of the season for the former Burnley man and it was a goal that was coming as Forest did not pick their performance up.
Forest did come close to equalising towards the end. Substitute Chris Wood giving the ball to Elanga and his first time shot from the edge of the box curled just wide of the target.
That was the final action of the game as Everton pick up a big three points up on the road. Forest with a very disappointing night and were booed off by the supporters with them not being happy about the performance. The Reds sit 15th in the table six points clear of Everton in 18th. They next travel to the capital in midweek to face Fulham where a better performance will be needed. Everton take a step closer to getting out the bottom three with there now being a two point gap between them and Luton Town. They next host Newcastle in midweek where they will want to build on this win at Forest.
No comments:
Post a Comment